Improvement in hay-spreaders



` the teeth of hay-rakers.

.FFIGEQ t DAvI'D LYMAN, on MIDDLEFIELD, connncricur.

IMPROVEMENT IN HAY-SPREADERS,

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 47,437, dated April 1865A l'o all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, DAvID LYMAN, of Middleield, in the county of Middlesex and State My invention relates `to that class of Ahay makers or spreaders in which the hay gathering and disseminating teeth are attached to levers or legs operated from a driving wheel or wheels"to reciprocate or oscillate upon a fixed fulcrum or fulcra on the cart or vehicle.

\ `The teeth, as heretofore generally made, are

composed of strong wire coiled at or nea-r their point of attachment, so as to impart tothem lateral spring action, in the manner similar to The obj ection attending this mode of construction is due to the rigidity of such teeth in the direction of the downward thrust of the levers, whereby the` teeth are'liable to brake or bend. This obj ection is less apparent when the hay-maker,

. constructedon the principle described, is used ona level iield free from stones and other intervening obstructions; but when used over an uneven ground having knolls, stones, or other like projections, it is great and fatal. The `object of this invention, therefore, is to remedy this defect, and I have accomplished it by constructing the teeth, or the` parts with which they are directly or indirectly connected, in such manner as to yield in the direction of their downward thrust.

, There are di'erent ways in which this my inventionmay be carried into effect; but I shall describe one which, having beentested,

gives satisfactory results.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A is the vehicle or frame, to a traverse-beam, B, of which are j ointed, at C, arms D, carrying at y their outer ends the levers or legs G, their reciprocating back and forth and up and down motion being imparted to the latter by means `of a crank-shaft, H, which derives its movement from thetmain gear-wheel I and the `driving Wheel .I thrug-n the intermediate wheel, K, and pinion L. 1 To the lower ends of the legs or leversG are secured lthe spring` teeth M, the same being constructed in pairs or `coiled around a pinor attachment,`N,

traversing` the said leven I Thus far the description answerscertain l `hay-1nakers now inuse.` lIn myimprovedmachine, however, the-lower ends of the "legsor levers are slotted andcontain sliding blocks O, provided with overlapping side cheeks, so as A same in the bottom oftheslot.

thepin, aroundwhich is coiled the spring-tooth M in any known or `convenient manner. this arrangement it will be understoodthe teeth have spring action both backward and y upward, so that if either strikea stone or other hard and unyielding substance in its path it will recede or yield, as the case may be, to clear I the obstacle without coming p, ont of contact y therewith. The operation of gathering and i scattering the hay is in this way accomplished y more perfectly than this can be effectedby any machine or apparatus knownto me.

Numerous modifications in point of constructive details and arrangements may be suggested without, however, y departing from the principle of my invention. `Thus, instead y of applying spring action to movable sliding n blocks to which the teethlare attached, it may be applied with equal advantageto the bear ings around thev crankpins to which the legs themselvesare attached. l

Having thus described my. inventionand I the manner in which the same is or may be carried intoeffecu I shall state my claims as follows:

l. In hay making or spreadingmachines of otherwise ordinary` or suitable construction, the combination, with the teeth for scattering the hay, of aspring attachment so arranged as to allow the teeth to yield upward in accordance with the irregularities of the ground, y y

substantially in the manner herein `set fortln 2. The method herein described of attach- `ing the teeth of hay making or spreading machines to blocks. or the equivalents thereof capable of sliding up and down, substantially k 'Y In testimony whereof Ihzwe signed my name as set forth. to this specifioation'befoie two subscribing Wit- 3. In hay making or spreadingmaehines in nesses. which levers are used having an np-and-down DAVID LYMAN and. backend-forth motion, the teeth When constructed and combined with springs giving Vitliesses:

them elasticity both backward and upward, XV. S. CAMP, as described. l Y J. E. BIDWELL. 

